The Executioner
by Shauna Allen
Series: The Family Creed, #1
Genre: Romance/Family Saga
Release Date: May 11, 2017
~ Five brothers, one family tragedy, untold heartache. ~
A stray bullet ended my Army career, forcing me to follow in my father’s prison guard footsteps.
My sister’s disappearance ten years ago annihilated my family, forcing each of us to find a way to cope.
But I’ve survived. Adapted.
At least until Genevieve Stone showed up, digging into the truth in the name of journalism and finding her way deep under my skin. I’m determined to do whatever it takes to find my sister, but when the case is blown wide open by the sexy reporter, I’m left with the ultimate question . . . can I trust her?
I’m a soldier, heart and soul.
I don’t do love.
War and death and pain are my church.
My name is Asher Creed.
I am the Executioner.
***Reader note: This is the first of a 6-part emotional family saga series. Each story is 100% male first-person point-of-view, and while each full-length novel is guaranteed to have a complete HEA romance, their family mystery remains unsolved until the end of the series.
***Due to profanity, mild violence and very strong sexual content, this book is not intended for readers under the age of 18. Also, please note the title. The hero is, in fact, an executioner on death row. While there is no intent to make any social or political statements, please do not read if this will be offensive to you.
“Are you part of the execution team?”
I swallowed, the thought of lying to her heavy in my throat. There was a reason we never divulged who was on the team. The stigma and attacks on our humanity would come from all angles, and in the end, it would change nothing. I am an executioner. It’s a job. Someone has to step up and do it. I was simply one of the few who were willing to swallow the emotional baggage that comes with putting another human being to death. I’m willing because maybe, just maybe, I’ll finally be able to bury the beast in me that snarls and snaps, thrashes and rages, thirsty for vengeance against the unknown monster that took my sister away.
“You know I can’t talk about that, Genevieve. I’m sorry.”
Her gold-green eyes sparked. “I thought so.”
I frowned, not answering.
“Okay. Let’s try this . . . hypothetically speaking, if someone were a part of the execution team at the prison, would they take part in every execution?”
“Theoretically, barring some certain circumstances, yes. Most likely. The warden has assembled a team he trusts and that rarely changes.”
She nodded and forked up a bite of meat. “How do you think those people feel? About killing another human being?” Her gaze was direct and unwavering.
I set my fork down and thought carefully about my reply. “I think they don’t think about it like that.”
“Does it make you sad?”
A beat passed heavily between us. Two. “No.”
She said nothing, returning to her meal, and I followed suit. Eventually, the cloud that filled the room seemed to dissipate as she digested my answers. “Tell me about your brothers. I’m dying to know about them.”
“Why?”
She shrugged one shoulder and sipped her wine. “I just am. Are they like you? Big and sexy and moody?”
“I’m not moody.”
She laughed. “Not denying the big and sexy, huh?”
I fought the grin that wanted to bust loose and forked my salad. “We’re all big and sexy, I won’t lie.”
“I’m sure. What else?”
I thought of my brothers and our time together yesterday. Even as distant and strained as we’d become, I knew we all still loved each other fiercely. “Well, I’m the oldest. Levi is next. He’s a businessman in Austin, divorced, no kids. Jamison is a SWAT sniper in Dallas, goofy and single. Joshua works as a criminal profiler for the FBI in Virginia. He’s brainy and quiet and single, as far as I know anyway. And the baby is Silas. He’s an up and coming MMA fighter and he lives in Houston.”
“So none of you have girlfriends or wives? Really?”
I shrugged. It sounded weird when you put it that way. “Other than Levi, we’ve all managed to avoid it.”
One brow lifted in challenge. “Avoid it?”
“Yeah.” I scooped up the last of my food.
“Are any of you gay?”
I nearly choked. “No.” I grabbed my water and sipped. “Why would you ask that?”
“Well, no women. Maybe there are men.”
“No. Only careers.” And grief, but I didn’t admit that out loud.
Her foot suddenly found my leg under the table. “I’m glad to hear it.”
I ran a hand under her jeans and up her calf. “Interested in my brothers?”
“No.”
“Glad to hear it.” I caressed down her leg and massaged her instep.
Her eyes fluttered closed as I continued rubbing her foot. Suddenly, I was overwhelmed by the need to taste her again. “Are we done here?” My voice was gruff, even to my own ears.
Her eyes slid open and met mine. “I’m not sure.”
“I am.” Keeping our gazes locked, I stood and rounded the table to stand beside her. “Get up.”
Her eyes flared, but she did as she was told. I felt her heated focus on me as I shoved our dinner dishes to the side of the table, making room in front of us. “Sit.” I indicated the spot where her plate had just been.
She only hesitated a moment, the air becoming thick between us. The blood was rushing through my veins like fire and I desperately needed to quench it. My erection strained behind my jeans and it was all I could do to control myself when she looked at me like she was getting off on my dominance. I wasn’t a kinky man, but I definitely liked to be in charge, in the bedroom and out. Call it the Ranger mentality.
I swallowed, the thought of lying to her heavy in my throat. There was a reason we never divulged who was on the team. The stigma and attacks on our humanity would come from all angles, and in the end, it would change nothing. I am an executioner. It’s a job. Someone has to step up and do it. I was simply one of the few who were willing to swallow the emotional baggage that comes with putting another human being to death. I’m willing because maybe, just maybe, I’ll finally be able to bury the beast in me that snarls and snaps, thrashes and rages, thirsty for vengeance against the unknown monster that took my sister away.
“You know I can’t talk about that, Genevieve. I’m sorry.”
Her gold-green eyes sparked. “I thought so.”
I frowned, not answering.
“Okay. Let’s try this . . . hypothetically speaking, if someone were a part of the execution team at the prison, would they take part in every execution?”
“Theoretically, barring some certain circumstances, yes. Most likely. The warden has assembled a team he trusts and that rarely changes.”
She nodded and forked up a bite of meat. “How do you think those people feel? About killing another human being?” Her gaze was direct and unwavering.
I set my fork down and thought carefully about my reply. “I think they don’t think about it like that.”
“Does it make you sad?”
A beat passed heavily between us. Two. “No.”
She said nothing, returning to her meal, and I followed suit. Eventually, the cloud that filled the room seemed to dissipate as she digested my answers. “Tell me about your brothers. I’m dying to know about them.”
“Why?”
She shrugged one shoulder and sipped her wine. “I just am. Are they like you? Big and sexy and moody?”
“I’m not moody.”
She laughed. “Not denying the big and sexy, huh?”
I fought the grin that wanted to bust loose and forked my salad. “We’re all big and sexy, I won’t lie.”
“I’m sure. What else?”
I thought of my brothers and our time together yesterday. Even as distant and strained as we’d become, I knew we all still loved each other fiercely. “Well, I’m the oldest. Levi is next. He’s a businessman in Austin, divorced, no kids. Jamison is a SWAT sniper in Dallas, goofy and single. Joshua works as a criminal profiler for the FBI in Virginia. He’s brainy and quiet and single, as far as I know anyway. And the baby is Silas. He’s an up and coming MMA fighter and he lives in Houston.”
“So none of you have girlfriends or wives? Really?”
I shrugged. It sounded weird when you put it that way. “Other than Levi, we’ve all managed to avoid it.”
One brow lifted in challenge. “Avoid it?”
“Yeah.” I scooped up the last of my food.
“Are any of you gay?”
I nearly choked. “No.” I grabbed my water and sipped. “Why would you ask that?”
“Well, no women. Maybe there are men.”
“No. Only careers.” And grief, but I didn’t admit that out loud.
Her foot suddenly found my leg under the table. “I’m glad to hear it.”
I ran a hand under her jeans and up her calf. “Interested in my brothers?”
“No.”
“Glad to hear it.” I caressed down her leg and massaged her instep.
Her eyes fluttered closed as I continued rubbing her foot. Suddenly, I was overwhelmed by the need to taste her again. “Are we done here?” My voice was gruff, even to my own ears.
Her eyes slid open and met mine. “I’m not sure.”
“I am.” Keeping our gazes locked, I stood and rounded the table to stand beside her. “Get up.”
Her eyes flared, but she did as she was told. I felt her heated focus on me as I shoved our dinner dishes to the side of the table, making room in front of us. “Sit.” I indicated the spot where her plate had just been.
She only hesitated a moment, the air becoming thick between us. The blood was rushing through my veins like fire and I desperately needed to quench it. My erection strained behind my jeans and it was all I could do to control myself when she looked at me like she was getting off on my dominance. I wasn’t a kinky man, but I definitely liked to be in charge, in the bedroom and out. Call it the Ranger mentality.
Wow! I wasn’t sure what to expect when I started this one and I can’t say enough about the story that Shauna Allen has put together. There was romance, there was mystery, and there was drama, all of which served to lay the foundation of telling the story of the Creed family – a story I can’t wait to see unravel and unfold!
I really loved the romance between to Asher and Genevieve. Two broken people who find each other and offer just what the other needs, when they need it. I liked that these two didn’t play games with their attraction for one another, they pretty much put it out there and acted on it. And when things start to get more real between them, and they both realize that maybe happy for now might turn into happy ever after, it was beautiful watching these two find that happiness, something neither of them thought they would ever deserve and had never let themselves hope to find. And Asher…*sigh*…even though he wasn’t perfect, he was real and sweet and could definitely bring the heat (and maybe even a little kink!)…and it was hard not to fall in love with him!
In addition to telling Asher and Genevieve’s story, we get to meet the Creed family, a family that has suffered a great loss and can’t seem to move past the pain. They go through the motions of living, but they are all a bit broken, and rather than open up to each other to heal, they have all found their own coping mechanisms.This woman intrigued me, tempted me, summoned something deep and hidden from within my soul. She compelled me to be more than I was, more than I had ever been, and I’d never felt this before.
All of our lives were complex – the loss of a daughter and our sister, the death of Levi’s son and subsequent divorce, Silas’ quiet rage, Jamison’s jokes that never quite hid his pain, Joshua’s detached coping, my let…all the anger and fear that constantly bubbled right under the surface of our family. It was a wonder we all hadn’t imploded.
Shauna Allen has started this series off with a story that runs the gamut of emotions but still leaves you feeling like you have been wrapped up in a warm hug. The writing displayed emotion that was real and made you feel like you were part of the story and not just reading a book. I highly recommend this book - it's become one of my top reads this year, and if the rest of this series is half as good they will all make my top reads list! This is one series that is worth checking out!
Check out the Series
Catch the rest of the Creed boys (and girl) very, very soon!
The Rainmaker
The Gunman
The Prodigal
The Silencer
The Dove (Novella)
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